Barbara Jo Orton

Barbara Jo Orton (Lewis) was born on January 18 1940. On August 11, 2015 she was reunited with family and friends who had gone to Heaven before her. Barbara was born to Emma Jean Ginnette. She was adopted as an infant by Chris and Helen Lewis. Barbara gave birth to 6 children. Her eldest son was placed for adoption at birth. One of her greatest joys was in being reunited with him a few short years before her death. Barbara was an amazing cook. She loved to cook southern style food. She was happiest in the kitchen stirring a pot of beans or collard greens. She always had enough for one more. She would use the last of her own food to make sure her friends and neighbors had enough to eat. She could not fathom the thought of people going to bed hungry or cold. She would often cry at news articles about the homeless or destitute. She would send money to the victims of tragedy every time she had the opportunity. She worked as an LPN and did mostly geriatric nursing, working in nursing homes. After she retired from nursing she worked as a Nanny for several families. She loved the families she worked for and kept in touch with them over the years. Those sweet children named her “Bebe or “Bia. Eventually even family called her Bia. Barbara was a lifelong learner and loved to write. She would write in her journal every day. If she missed a night, she would write all about it the next chance she got. The entries she wrote included information from her past and what was going on in her life at the time. She included pictures, newspaper clippings and recipes in the pages of her journals and many notebooks. Her last entry was just 5 days before she left us. She was also clever and witty. She never met a stranger. She enjoyed chatting and learning about people, where they were from, their cultures and religions. She was kind to everyone she met and tried to strike up a conversation with them. . She had many “words of wisdom” and life experiences to share with those she came in contact with. Barbara's favorite holiday was Christmas. She started planning for Christmas in July. She loved decorating and all the festivities, except for the singing. She wanted to do the singing herself. Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Christopher LaFell Lewis; her mother, Helen Vay Stone; her husband of 21 years, William P. ”Billy” Orton; her first husband and the father of her children, John Christopher Lawrence; her sister, Joy Christine Mutzberg (Ernie); her brother, Harold Lewis; and her daughter, Barbara Berdell Lawrence. Barbara is survived by her children, Linda Joy Orton, Kenneth Marshall Fryer (Ramona), Leesa LaWanda Trovato (Fred Huddle), Charles Christopher Lawrence (Jeanette); and Betty Ruth Lawrence; her grandchildren, Ryan Foutch, Kim Ditto (Larry), Amber Lawrence, Alison Grace Lawrence, Jennifer Orton (Gia Trapani), Aimee Ransom (Philip Sr.), and Kristina Beedle; great-grandchildren,, Halie McComa, Jacob Foutch, Gevonie Jackson, Damien McAllister, Aleesya Lawrence, Philip Ransom Jr., and Arihanna Ransom. A memorial service will be held at Mount Cross Evangelical church in University Place, WA September 18,2015 at 2 o'clock Pm.